cats! about cats!!!

The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a pattern that is unique, just like the fingerprint of a human.

The American cat population reached nearly 68 million in 1996.  American Demographics magazine estimates that's about 200 million kitty yawns per hour and a whopping 425 million catnaps each day!

If your cat is near you, and her tail is quivering, this is the greatest expression of love your cat can give you.   If her tail starts thrashing, her mood has changed --- Time to distance yourself from her.

A cat's heart beats twice as fast as a human heart, at 110 to 140 beats per minute.

Cats wag their tails when it is in a stage of conflict.  The cat wants to do two things at once, but each impulse blocks the other.  For example:   If your cat is in the doorway wanting to go outside, and you open the door to find it raining, the cat's tail will wag because of internal conflict.  The cat wants to go outside, but doesn't want to go into the rain.  Once the cat makes a decision and either returns to the house or leaves into the rain, the tail will immediately stop wagging.

don't pick a kitten or a cat up by the scruff of its neck;  only mother cats can do this safely, and only with their kittens.

Cats knead with their paws when they're happy.

Your cat loves you and can "read" your moods.  If you're sad or under stress, you may also notice a difference in your cat's behavior.

A cat will almost never "meow" at another cat.  This sound is reserved for humans. 

A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just 7 years.(whoa!)

Cats love to chew on grass, catnip, parsley or sage.  Become a green thumb and plant an indoor garden for your cat!   But be careful -- many plants are toxic to your cats!

"Sociable" cats will follow you from room to room to monitor your activities throughout the day.

Cats can see in color!

Cats are partially color blind.   They have the equivalency of human red/green color blindness.  (Reds appear green and greens appear red;  or shades thereof.)

Cats don't see "detail" very well.  To them, their person may appear hazy when standing in front of them.

Cats need 1/6th the amount of light that humans do to see.  Their night vision is amazing! Cats can see up to 120 feet away.   Their peripheral vision is about 285 degrees. Cats eyes come in three shapes:   round, slanted and almond. The color of a kitten's eyes will change as it grows older. At birth, kittens can't see or hear.   Cats open their eyes after five days and begin to develop their eyesight and hearing at approximately 2 weeks.  They begin to walk at 20 days. Kittens begin dreaming at just over one week old. my little puma